Former Bush advisor speaks at OC

Friday, Jul 12, 2013

Karl Rove, former advisor to President George W. Bush, will keynote the Four Star Leadership Dinner at Oklahoma Christian University on Friday, July 19.

Doors open at 6:40 p.m. and the dinner program will begin at 7 p.m. Table sponsorships are available. Individual tickets are $50 each and can be reserved in advance by emailing events@oc.edu or calling (405) 425-6300. Tickets will not be available at the door.

Rove served as senior advisor to President George W. Bush from 2000 to 2007 and as deputy chief of staff in the Bush administration from 2004 to 2007.

He writes a weekly op-ed for the Wall Street Journal and is the author of the New York Times bestseller, “Courage and Consequence: My Life as a Conservative in the Fight.” He has served as a political contributor for Fox News Channel since 2008.

Rove’s appearance in Oklahoma City is one of the highlights of the Gen. Tommy Franks Four Star Leadership summer program, which begins at Oklahoma Christian on July 14.

Fifty select high school students from across the country will meet with authors, politicians and global thought leaders during the week-long program. Excursions during the week will provide students with opportunities to develop leadership skills and employ them through cultural experiences and service projects.

The Four Star Leadership Congressional Debate competition offers students expert policy briefings so they may address those issues in persuasive speech and editorial contests, while collaborating in a model Student Congress. Students will investigate contemporary policy controversies ranging from energy policy to human rights.

Any of the participants who choose to pursue their college education at Oklahoma Christian will receive a $1,000-per-year scholarship for up to four years.

Gen. Tommy Franks, former commander-in-chief of U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, hosts the Four Star Leadership program, with the National Center for Policy Analysis, the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, and Oklahoma Christian as partners.

Since 2008, Four Star Leadership has welcomed 206 American high school students from 42 states and 32 international students. Kings, governors, senators, Olympic gold medalists and top national policy experts have mentored students through the program.